Line Integral Question (Vertical line issues)

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the mass of a wire using a line integral. The wire lies along a piecewise linear curve from (2,2) to (12,4) to (12,9) and its density is given by (xy)=2xy+6x. The conversation also mentions using two separate line integrals and provides a parametric equation for the line segment from (12,4) to (12,9). The final step is to parametrize the linear density and integrate to find the mass of the wire.
  • #1
Lothar
19
0

Homework Statement


A wire lies along the piecewise linear curve extending from the point (2,2) to the point (12,4) to the point (12,9). If the density of the wire is given by (xy)=2xy+6x, use a line integral to find the mass of the wire.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I know I need to do two separate line integrals and add them.

For the first half (2,2 to 12,4) I got
integral from 2 to 12 of [(2(t)((1/5)t+(8/5))+6t] sqrt(1+(1/5)^2) which comes out to be 890.629

For the second part, I know it should be integral from 4 to 9, but I'm having issues finding the correct equation for the line from (12,4) to (12,9).

I've tried just using the y parametrization of p(x,y) which is <t,(1/5)t+8/5>, but I'm not getting the right answers.

Can anyone help me out with this? I have an exam during the next week.

Thank you.
 
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  • #2
A parametric equation of the line segment with the starting point (12,4) and end point (12, 9) is: r(t)=(1-t)(12,4)+t(12,9)=(12, 4+5t), where 0=<t=<1.

That is x(t)=12, and y(t)=4+5t. Now just parametrize the linear density, and integrate. Don't forget the ds term though.
 

1. What is a line integral?

A line integral is a mathematical concept used in vector calculus to calculate the total value of a function along a specific path or curve. It takes into account both the direction and magnitude of the function at each point along the path.

2. How is a line integral different from a regular integral?

A regular integral calculates the area under a curve, while a line integral calculates the value of a function along a specific path or curve. In other words, a regular integral is two-dimensional, while a line integral is three-dimensional.

3. What are "vertical line issues" in a line integral?

"Vertical line issues" refer to a specific problem that can arise when calculating a line integral along a vertical line. This is because the path along a vertical line does not have a well-defined direction, which can cause issues when evaluating the integral.

4. How can "vertical line issues" be resolved?

There are a few ways to resolve "vertical line issues" in a line integral. One method is to break the original path into smaller, non-vertical segments and calculate the integral for each segment. Another method is to use a different coordinate system, such as polar coordinates, which can avoid the issue altogether.

5. What are some real-world applications of line integrals?

Line integrals have many practical applications in fields such as physics, engineering, and computer graphics. They can be used to calculate work done by a force, electric fields, fluid flow, and more. In computer graphics, line integrals are used to calculate lighting and shading effects on 3D objects.

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